PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s Low Wee Wern capped a glorious week in Shanghai by outlasting world No. 5 Camille Serme to lift her third China Open squash title.
The 24-year-old Wee Wern, who also won the title in 2011 and 2012, displayed better tactics and nerves of steel to edge the 25-year-old Serme 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 12-10 in a 102-minute tussle on Sunday.
Wee Wern, the world No. 7, could have sealed the title earlier, but a lapse of concentration midway through the final allowed Serme to find her way back into contention. Fortunately for Wee Wern, she recovered her composure to bag her seventh career title and only her second WSA Gold title.
Having gone through a disappointing season, Wee Wern believes she is peaking at the right time ahead of the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea from Sept 19- Oct 4.
“It was such a tough match, especially after I let slip a 2-0 lead. Camille never gave up the whole time,” said Wee Wern.
“I had a great start in the first two sets, but I was too impatient in the third and ended up attacking at the wrong time. Camille took advantage of that.
“But I am really happy to win because I really didn’t want to lose this match. Mentally it was probably the toughest match I’ve ever had. Having lost so many close matches, I’m glad I pulled through this time.
“It’s definitely the type of result I need as I’ve struggled with so many things of late. With this win, I’m definitely ready for the Asiad challenge,” added Wee Wern.
In the men’s event, it will be an all-English final with world No. 7 James Willstrop taking on world No. 8 Peter Barker.
In the semi-finals, Willstrop scored an 8-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 win over Egypt’s Omar Mosaad while Barker eliminated Holland’s Laurens Jan Anjema 11-5, 11-5, 11-2.
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